Congenital prepubic sinus: Report of two cases

Abstract

Congenital prepubic sinus is a rare disorder with fewer than 30 cases reported in the literature. The origin of the sinus and its tract is unclear but urethral duplication, cloacal remnant or midline closure defect are amongst the postulated mechanisms for the development of the sinus. Chronic discharge and infection are the main indications for surgery. Although surgery is the definite way of correction, timing and extend of surgery are not well documented due to the limited number of cases. Here we present two cases with congenital prepubic sinus, a four month old girl and a five years old boy, who were admitted with discharge through the external opening of the prepubic sinus which are shown not to have a connection with urinary system and are managed by limited surgical excision. Postoperative courses were uneventful and no relapse or complications were encountered. Histological examination revealed that the sinus tract is lined with squamous stratified epithelium without any other significant finding. Although the classification and definition of congenital prepubic sinus is not clear, extensive imaging modalities and surgical procedures are not necessary in most conditions as these can create additional burden for the patient and the healthcare system and may cause complications at the cost of nothing.